The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Sep-Oct 1922)

GN MATHESON LANG'S THE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS. September 16, 1922. TRIUMPH AS DICK TURPIN. Stoll’s Fine Production which has a Terrific Showman’'s Appeal. Great performance by Matheson Lang and some wonderful riding in the ride to York. A picture that should have a world wide appeal. 66 ICK TURPIN’S RIDE TO YORK,” which Stoll’s D screened to the trade on Tuesday, has been awaited with considerable curiosity by exhibitors all over the country. It has been generally recognised that a picture based on the romantic episode of the famous highwayman’s life, if SCENE FROM THE FiuM. well produced, would have an enormous appeal to kinema-goers all over the country. Let me at once say that Stoll’s have exceeded all expectations in the production of this photoplay. The immortal story of Dick Turpin’s ride to York has been known to us all from childhood, and the gay, debonair figure of the highwayman has been cherished in our memories for all time. THE COMPLETE HIGHWAYMAN. It was no easy subject that Maurice Elvey, the well-known Stoll producer, set about when he endeavoured to make a picture of this romantic figure, but it is safe to say that in picking Matheson Lang to portray the part of the hero at least 75 per cent. of his difficulties were straight away solved. * Dick Turpin’s Ride to York *? is undoubtedly a triumph for the Stoll Film Company, but it is even a greater triumph for Matheson Lang. We have had specimens of Mr, Lang’s work on the screen before, each and every one of which has undoubtedly added to his reputation, but it has been reserved for this picture to show how easy it is for Matheson Lang to assume the dashing, swagger figure that we all understand Dick Turpin to have been, and which he has delineated on the screen. The story has been written by Maurice Elvey and also directed by him, and deals in-a very faithful manner with the accepted version, showing Dick Turpin as a gallant) highwayman, and = portraying in masterly style his famous ride to York to succour the woman he loves. THE FAMOUS RIDE TO YORK. The chief interest ih this picture undoubtedly centres in the famous ride to York and the death of Bonny Black Bess, and here Matheson Lang undoubtedly gives his finest acting. The interest in the ride to York is sustained throughout by shots interspersed, showing Esther being married to the dissolute Far! of Weston and the anguish she suffers in his company. Dick Turpin, pursued by a horde of Bow Street runners, dashes onward in a series of extraordinarily fine photographic shots, and the scene where Black Begs collapses and dics is handled remarkably well. Matheson Lang in this scene alone presents a great ficure, and one gets a real thrill in the death scene with his horse, The film takes us on and on until Turpin arrives in the nick of time to save Esther from the embraces of her dissolute husband, and culminates in a great scone where the drunken Karl is snot dead by Dick Turpin. Mr. Elvey has handled his crowds extraordinarily well, and has turned out a great showman’s picture for the Stoll Film Company. The film breathes atmosphere throughout, and, as far as possible, has been taken on the actual sites on the’ Great North Road. It is a triumph for the Stoll Film Company, and— will undoubtedly make great entertainment to the picture-goins public. ‘* Dick Turpin’s Ride to York '’ can be safely booked without any doubt whatever.—E.W.F. SCENE FROM THE FILM. Original from NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY